e-Focus Newsletter

Town of Weaverville

Monthly News & Updates

Weaverville’s Water Future

After many months and meetings analyzing the future of our water supply Town Council voted last month to expand our water treatment plant which will double our capacity. This decision follows the implementation of several of the water system recommendations I made to Council several months ago, including and most importantly creating an interconnectivity of water systems with other nearby towns.We have negotiated agreements with Woodfin Water to connect to their system (and indirectly with Asheville) and with Mars Hill to have a bidirectional water flow with them. These agreements make our water system much safer and resilient as we can now access emergency or supplemental water from our neighbors, as they can from us. The town of Marshall (which only has well water) will soon build a line to connect with the Mars Hill system. This will allow us to provide them water when needed. Council also voted to purchase backup generators for our plant further enhancing our systems resiliency.

This cooperative regional solution to water availability represents great progress and we believe as an infrastructure project meeting the needs of several municipalities it is one the state would want to invest in with the American Rescue Plan funds they currently have on hand. To facilitate that end we have gained the support of all the towns involved in the project as well as several of our area legislators and congressional office. We also hired a lobbyist to bird-dog our project through the General Assembly. Water treatment plants are very expensive to build ($15m+) so any funding we can attain from other sources will be boon to Weaverville taxpayers.

This has been a long and thorough examination of our water future which included hiring engineering consultants to verify we had secure river yield reliability that will not have negative environmental impact. Completion of the new plant will take a few years, but it will secure a solid future for our water supply.

Patrick Fitzsimmons, Mayor

Town of Weaverville Water Treatment Facility Water Quality Report:

We are once again pleased to present our annual water quality report covering all testing performed between January 1 and December 31, 2022. Over the years, we have dedicated ourselves to producing drinking water that meets all state and federal standards. We continually strive to adopt new methods for delivering the best-quality drinking water to you. As new challenges to drinking water safety emerge, we remain vigilant in meeting the goals of source water protection, water conservation, and community education while continuing to serve the needs of all our water users.

Please remember that we are always available should you ever have any questions or concerns about your water. You can view and download this report from the towns website by clicking this link: https://weavervillenc.org/forms-documents/download-info/2023-water-quality-report/

Council Member Cordell Completes Advanced Leadership Corps (ALC) Training

Weaverville Council Member Catherine Cordell successfully completed the Advanced Leadership Corps (ALC) training offered annually to select local elected officials by the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

ALC is an intensive leadership development program designed by the School's Center for Public Leadership and Governance. The weeklong residential program is a dynamic experience that helps participants learn about their own leadership styles, inspire others to work toward a shared vision, and gain insights into how to work together to build better relationships and achieve tangible results. More than 200 elected leaders from across North Carolina have completed this program since its inception in 2013.

A Message From Weaverville's Police Department:

April 26^th is Administrative Professionals Day which provides the Weaverville Police Department with the opportunity to acknowledge our Administrative Professional, Amy Buchanan. It has been said, “No one in this world is more cherished than someone who lightens the burden of another." Since 2017, Amy has done that for 16 of us! Her knowledge and skills are astounding, making our jobs incrementally easier. She is a quick troubleshooter and a gifted problem solver. Her ability to keep the office running well provides the department with great comfort. She handles every phone call with unwavering professionalism, treats each walk-in with priority, and shares our culture of community policing.

But it's not just her work - her attitude and fit with our team are exceptional. We are always impressed with her willingness to help. She is our go-to person, as many of us frequent her office to ask questions. The department's trust in her speaks volumes! Amy Buchanan working for the Weaverville Police Department will have a positive impact for years to come.

A Message From Curbie:

According to our contract on July 1 of each year, we will adjust our costs based on the prior annual January-to-December calendar year percent change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of all urban consumers for the southern region as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 2022 CPI increase is 8.6%. The rates below reflect the July 2023 through June 2024 rate adjustments for the Town of Weaverville using a 8.6% increase.

Interested In Working For The Town of Weaverville?

We currently have openings in Public Works and the Fire Department. Please click here more information and instructions on how to apply. We offer competitive wages, an excellent benefit package and a great team environment!

The Weaverville ABC Board Is Hiring

Weaverville ABC Board is taking resumes for the following position:

Finance officer/Bookkeeper/Retail Sales

40 Hours / 5 days a week with up to 25 hours office and 15 hours Retail Sales

Full Benefits including NC Retirement Plan Please go to: http://weaverville.ncabcboards.com to review full description of the position and how to apply.

Mark Your Calendar

Town Hall Closed April 7th

Town offices will be closed April 7th in observance of the Good Friday Holiday.

Public Hearings:

A public hearing on the following items will occur on Monday, April 24, 2023, at 6:00pm in the Community Room/Council Chambers at Weaverville Town Hall, 30 South Main Street, Weaverville.

Willdan System Development Fee Draft Report and water system development fees for the Town of Weaverville

Proposed annexation agreement between the Towns of Woodfin and Weaverville

Proposed Code amendments related to Nonconforming Lots, Table of Dimensional Requirements, and Mapping Standards

April Meetings:

April 4th: Planning Board Meeting

April 10th: Board of Adjustment Meeting

April 18th: Town Council Workshop

April 24th: Town Council Meeting

For more information on these meetings click here.

Blood Drive at the Community Center

Spring cleaning? How about Spring donating! Join us at the Weaverville Community Center at Dottie Sherrill Knoll on April 14^th, 2023 from 10:00am-3:00pm. All blood types are needed.

To schedule your appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code: Weaverville or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Please bring your Red Cross donor card or a photo ID with you to the blood drive. Walk ins welcome.

Give April 1-23 for an exclusive Red Cross + PEANUTS Snoopy T-shirt, ltd qty! Plus, chance to win a trip for 2 to Sonoma County, CA with a behind the scenes tour of the Charles M. Schulz Museum & Snoopy’s Home Ice from Peanuts Worldwide!

Power Red Change: As of April 4^th, females can donate Power Red if they are 5’3” and 150 lbs. The requirement used to be 5’5”. If your blood drive is before 4/4, this change will not apply.

2023 Art Safari Spring Studio Tour

The Weaverville Art Safari is one of the original studio tours in the Asheville Area. It is a self guided free event that offers a unique look at the artist’s work in their working environment, featuring artists who specialize in handmade pottery, glass, photography, sculpture, jewelry, furniture, painting, drawing, fiber art, wood art and more.

The 2023 Spring Art Safari will be April 29- 30th from 10am-5pm both days. A preview of participating artists is available online at www.weavervilleartsafari.com. You may also see a lovely display of (just a fraction) of the Spring Studio Tour participants is at the Weaverville Community Center.

Weaverville Center for Creative & Healthy Living News

Weaverville Center for Creative & Healthy Living: Blog / 1 April 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS – Free Admission

Lecture: Living Well to Die Well - A Guide for Terminally Ill People and Their Loved Ones, by Kae Heckerman Mance. Monday, April 3rd, 7:00-8:30 PM. Kae Mance has terminal cancer. After receiving her diagnosis, she chose to take control of her care. She also made a conscious decision to be completely open and honest with family and friends about her prognosis. She has captured important aspects of her experience in her book entitled Living Well to Die Well - A Guide for Terminally Ill People and Their Loved Ones. In her presentation, as in her book, Kae will demonstrate that impending death need not be an uncomfortable topic. Everyone can benefit from learning how to be supportive and how to interact in ways that empower those with terminal diagnoses or serious illnesses to find the joy and peace to be had near the end of life. Kae’s book can be purchased at Amazon.com: Books. Living Well to Die Well - A Guide for Terminally Ill People and Their Loved Ones: Mance, Kae Heckerman: 9798373703314. Please note Kae will have a limited number of books to purchase ($15 / cash only) at the event which she will gladly sign at the end of her lecture. All book sales profits will be directed to a not-for-profit hospice that supports cancer patients and their loved ones.
“Blooming Self” Women’s Yoga Workshop: [Event is FULL / Now accepting stand-by reservations only] Sunday, April 16th, 1:30-4:00 PM. (Note Earlier Start Time) Free and open to all women - teens and up. “No prior yoga experience necessary as this workshop will be a beautiful opportunity to reflect on the significant passages of our lives as women. We will embrace who we are and who we are blooming into, no matter what our age, through mindful and fun yoga practices, a powerful circle of connection, journaling, and a tea ceremony.” Because space is limited in the Albert Weaver Room, pre-registration is required. For additional information about what to wear and what to bring, please contact Wendy Lantis at: bloomingself@gmail.com.
The Brass Consortium of the Toe River Chamber Ensemble (TRCE): Sunday, April 16th, 7:00-8:30 PM. These musicians are part of a community orchestra located in Burnsville. They, like other members of TRCE, come from several towns in Western North Carolina. Members volunteer their time and talent to provide free, live classical music concerts to local communities. The Brass Consortium's repertoire includes works spanning six centuries of Classical Music, from the Renaissance to Modern art music. Works including those of Palestrina, Gabrieli, Bach, Handel, Grieg, Debussy, Bartok, and today’s composers of brass ensemble music, such as John Cheetham and Eric Ewazen. What a great way to introduce your family to chamber music. For more information contact: Kevin Paul at rkevinpaul@gmail.com or or visit their website at: https://www.toeriverchamberensemble.org/brass_consortium.shtml
New Concert Collaboration: Save the date, Friday, May 5th, 7:00-8:30 PM. The Wilma Dykeman Legacy organization has chosen to partner with WCCHL to bring to the Community Center their “Mountain Strong” Series that celebrates traditional mountain life. Their inaugural event will feature the White Rock Revival for an evening of Bluegrass music and stories of life on the farm across several generations. For more information contact: www.wilmadykemanlegacy.org.
The Artisan Players Present: The Laramie Project: Sunday, June 25th, 6:00-8:00 PM. This 2000 play by Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project, centers on the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. The murder was denounced as a hate crime and brought attention to the lack of hate crime laws in various states, including Wyoming. An example of verbatim theatre, the play draws upon hundreds of interviews conducted by the theatre company with inhabitants of the town, company members' own journal entries, and published news reports. It is divided into three acts, where eight actors portray more than sixty characters in a series of short scenes. Provocative, deeply moving, and perhaps triggering for some, this play is not suggested for younger audiences. The Laramie Project will be Co-Directed by Marc Cameron and Bill Gregg. Marc is well known to the Weaverville community as an original member of The Artisan Players who starred in its inaugural performance, Love Letters in 2022. Marc went on to portray artist Mark Rothko in the production Red, and he recently directed both Ancestral Voices and Rumors to enthusiastic capacity crowds. This project is very personal to Marc as an openly gay, 66 year old male, and a survivor of HIV for more than 40 years. He strives daily to quell hurtful stereotyping by educating our community about the unnecessary stigma of HIV, all the while celebrating the joy of long term survival. Bill Gregg’s credits include Professor, Theatre Arts at Mars Hill University; Executive Producing Director, Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre; and Production Manager Alabama Shakespeare Festival. The Directors and Cast will remain on stage after their performance for questions and dialogue about the social justice themes presented in this provocative production.

Highlights of Ongoing Activities:

Ballroom Dancing: Sunday, April 9th. Lesson: 5:30-6:00 PM. Dance: 6:00-8:00 PM. These Sunday evening events continue to draw a large and enthusiastic crowd. Come early for lessons or just show up for the dance itself. As usual, we'll have bottled water and light snacks. The entire event is open to the public, and FREE! Hope to see y'all there and bring a friend or two. For more information contact: reneetwilley@gmail.com
Tai Chi: Beginning Tuesday, April 4th, Tai Chi classes are being extended to accommodate both beginners and those with Tai Chi experience. Beginner segment will run 9:30-10:10 AM Intermediate segment from 10:20-11:00 AM. Participants will be welcome in either or both sessions. Tai Chi classes will temporarily end June 6 due to the instructor’s hiatus from June 10-28. Stay tuned for dates to restart classes after the instructor’s return. For more information contact Barbara Ramsey at bgramsey13@aol.com.
Line Dancing: The nomenclature of each class has been modified to better define the level of instruction for each class.
Beginner-Plus Line Dance Lessons: Thursdays / 11:00 AM-Noon Instructor: Bonnie Russolillio / Register at: bonnieruss1@icloud.com 8 Week Class begins on April 6th
Improver Line Dance Lessons: Thursdays / 10:00-11:00AM Instructor: Nina Denninger / Register at: nina.denninger@gmail.com 8 Weeks Class begins on April 6th
Intermediate Line Dance Lessons: Mondays / 7:00-9:00 PM Instructor: Bonnie Russolillio / Register at: bonnieruss1@icloud.com 5 Week Class begins on May 1st

Notice: New Activities

Poetry Group: Who knew we had so many poets in our midst? Mel Kelley has offered to be our Group Champion for this program that has identified the first 3 meeting dates: Apr 25, May 30, & Jun 27. For more information, contact Mel Kelley at: soulspeakavl@gmail.com
Zumba Gold: Classes will begin on Tuesday, May 2nd and run on a weekly basis through June with a brief hiatus in July before resuming again. For more information, contact Angel Trail, PT at: angel@bigivypt.com
Storytelling Class: Chuck Fink will again teach his popular 4 session class to help students hone their craft as storytellers. Learn to write, edit, and deliver your own story. Learn where to find historically and culturally based stories from Appalachia and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Mark your calendar for the following dates: Mondays, May 15th & 22nd and June 5th & 12th . For mor information, contact Chuck at: charlesfink1@gmail.com.

What you missed last week:

Here is the link to the photo album of the Artisan Players’ production of Rumors, by Neil Simon. As you can see, we had a full house in place that thoroughly enjoyed this hysterical comedy. Photos are provided with the permission of Paul King, Photography (pdkingnc@aol.com). https://www.flickr.com/photos/185926752@N07/52774272097/in/album-72177720307035737/

Public Service Announcement: Mary Poppins arriving at North Buncombe High School! Save the dates: April 27-29 @ 7:00 pm / April 30 @ 2:30 pm

Public Service Announcement: Mary Poppins arriving at North Buncombe High School! Save the dates: April 27-29 @ 7:00 pm / April 30 @ 2:30 pm Mary Poppins is literally “flying” into North Buncombe High School’s Auditorium for a 4 day run. This beloved musical production is based on the stories of P. L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film. Original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

Adults $12 / Students & Seniors $10 / Children 10 and under $3 · Reserve tickets at: https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/north-buncombe-high-school/63a35256bf61e528e9f1e031/tickets
Limited general admissions seats available at the door
For more information, contact NBHS Theatre at: blackhawkbroadway@gmail.com

General Notice: After 18 months of continuous growth in our programming thanks to our incredible volunteer Instructors and Group Champions, plus your unwavering support and continuous attendance, WCCHL has hit its critical mass for time slots at the Community Center (CC). While the Town continues to be exceedingly supportive of WCCHL and its efforts to fill the CC with interesting programs and special events, the Town also needs to be able to rent the Albert Weaver and Multipurpose Rooms to generate revenue that supports the Town… namely, all of us! In short, WCCHL will only be adding new ongoing programs as current ongoing programs terminate their run of activities. Special events such as Readers’ Theater, Storytelling Concerts, and Musical Concerts will continue to fill in the gaps as the CC’s master calendar allows. The combined success of both the CC’s rental program and WCCHL’s health, wellness, entertainment, and educationally focused programming has achieved its collective goals of building community by working together and making the CC a centerpiece of civic pride.

Thanks to all of you for making this journey so immensely successful and rewarding.

That being said… Any interest in a Summer Math Program? While we are not sure where we will hold this program as yet, would there be any interest in a Summer Math Program for your school aged child this summer? WCCHL continues to find ways to serve the needs of our entire community… kids included. Scheduling would depend upon your direct input. If interested, send us an email at: wcchl@weavervillenc.org. Please include the following information in your email reply.

· Child’s first name,

· Child’s current age,

· Child’s grade level they will enter in August 2023,

· How many hours per class would be best for your student (1, 1½, 2 hours per class),

· How many meetings per week would be best for your student (1-5 classes per week), and

· How many consecutive weeks would be best for your student (3-6 weeks)?

We look forward to hearing from you…

Thomas M. Balestrieri

Board Chairperson

Weaverville Center for Creative & Healthy Living

26 Whitetail Drive

Weaverville, NC 28787